Child s carriage



(No Model.)

T. A. GAL-T.

4 UHILDS CARRIAGE, .No. 435,997. Patented Sept. 9, 1890.

63 q J Q ,2?

. fl I lili UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. GALT, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS.

CH l LDS CARRIAG E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,997, dated September 9, 1890.

' Application filed June 10, 1890. Serial No. 354,953. a. model.)

To all whom it .may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. GALT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sterling, in the county of Whiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Ghilds Oarriage and Cradle; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvementsin a combined childs carriage and cradle, in which the cradle is adapted to oscillate laterally, being supported at its ends near the top thereof by standards seated on the gears; and the objects of my improvements are, first, to so proportion the structure and suspend the cradle that the latter may always be at such elevation as to swing clear of the wheels in its oscillation aforesaid, and, second, to provide simple and efficient facilities for instantly locking the cradle or body against lateral oscillation,and thereby utilize the same for the ordinary purposes of a 'childs carriage. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawngs, in Which Figure 1 is a perspective of a structure embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an oblique elevation of the rear end thereof. Fig. 3 is a section through locking device.

A is the body, which can be of any of the usual forms and of any material desired.

B B are ordinary wheels, here shown in two pairs; but my invention is adapted to a threewheeled vehicle, the front end of the latter being supported on a single wheel; but I think four wheels are preferable, as they afford a better base when my invention is utilized as a cradle, as hereinafter mentioned.

0 C are the axles, to which is secured the handles D. The latter are respectively attached to the front and rear axles near the outer ends of the latter and serve as coupling devices. They are extended upward at the rear in the usual form, although, if preferred, their upper curvature and use may be at the front end.

E E are four springs seated; respectively, on the horizontal portion of handles D over the axles O and extending a slight distance above the plane of the upper surface of the wheels B. The springs E, which I have adopted, are simply bent steel plates; but it is obvious that any structure and compression-springs may be substituted therefor if given the proper altitude.

F F are forward and rear cross-plates connecting each pair of springsEEand suitably attach ed to the upper surfaces thereof.

G G are substantially vertical body-supports having their lower ends bifurcated and suitably seated, respectively, in the crossplates F. The rear suppoi t G extends upward to nearly the top of the rear of the body A, and the front support G is about the same height. A short horizontal arm H is attached centrally at its front end to the body A at the rear end of the latter near the top, and pivoted at its rear end in the upper end of the rear support G by being loosely projected through a round hole G in the upper end of the latter.

As it is essential for the comfort of the occupant that the front end of the body A be slightly lower than the rear end thereof, a

bent arm J is suitably attached at its lower and rear end centrally to the front end of the body A near the upper edge of the latter, and, rising thence to near the top of the adjacent support G, is bent forward into a horizontal position and pivotally seated in the upper end of said support by being loosely projected through a horizontal hole G therein. The body A when thus supported is in a situation to be rocked laterally, having its oscillating supports in the holes G. The arm J permits the front. end of the body A, although at a lower altitude, to have the same are of oscillation as its rear end, and thus precludes any torsional or unequal swing at the respective ends of said body. The substructure described also supports the body A at a convenient altitude to be reached and rocked by one standing on the floor, seated in an adjacent chair, or reclining in bed.

To suspend at will the oscillation aforesaid of the body A, and thereby render the whole structure suitable for use as a childs carriage, I journal horizontally a lock-bolt K centrally in a suitable box 011 or in the rear cross-plate F. The bolt K is placed longitudinally of the structure, and is adapted to have its front end projected beyond plate F toward hole L, formed longitudinally in the center of the rear of the body A at or near the base thereof and in the line of bolt K, when the body A is at rest. In hole L is rigidly fixed a threaded nut N. The front portion of the bolt K is peripherally threaded and projected forward beyond the contiguous cross-plate F, if seated therein, or beyond the rear wall of the sleeve or box in which it may be seated, if placedupon plate F. A suitable thumb piece M is formed upon the rear end of the bolt K, by means of which said bolt is projected within or withdrawn from the opening L in the body A, and the latter thereby held rigidly to the contiguous plate F and in a stationary position, or released therefrom and permitted to oscillate. The rear support G inclines slightly forward at its top, whereby body A normally hangs clear of the front end of bolt K. Two annular collars O are rigidly formed on bolt K, the one abutting against the front and the other against the rear of the journal-bearing of said bolt. Thus the bolt K has an axial, but no longitudinal, movement. In looking the body A the latter is drawn or swung slightly rearward until the front end of bolt K engages nut N in opening L, when one or two rotations of bolt K seats the front end of said bolt in said nut and locks body A to the gears. A slight reverse rotation of bolt K releases body A and the latter swings forward enough to clear bolt K in its lateral oscillations. A very slight protrusion of the bolt K within the opening L will be suflicient to prevent the lateral oscillation of the bodyA. The thumbpiece M is within convenient reach of the attendant, whether standing at the side of the body A or at the handles D.

' The duplex use of my invention will be ob vious from the foregoing description. When the bolt K is withdrawn from the opening L, the structure is adapted to all the purposes of a childs cradle. When said bolt K is inserted slightly within said opening L, the entire structure is perfectly adapted for use as a childs carriage or perambulator. No change in the elevation of the body A is essential in the foregoing conversion from a carriage to a cradle, and no depression of the bodyA is required to convert the structure from a cradle to a childs carriage. In fact, no alteration in the elevation of the bodyA is made at any time. Only the simple rotation of the bolt K is requisite for any change.

A cradle is inconvenient to move from one room to another, while my invention can be readily taken to different parts of the house and out upon the street.

lrVhatI claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s-

1. The combination of the plates F, suitably supported upon springs and wheels, supports G, seated upon said plates and projected upward therefrom and provided, respectively, with openings G in their upper ends, the body A, provided with opening L, arms II and J, suitably attached at their inner ends centrally to the body A near the upper edge of the latter and j ournaled, respectively, at their outer ends in the openings G aforesaid, nut N,

seated in said openings, and bolt K, pivotally seated in or on the adjacent plate F and adapted to optionally engage nut N in opening L, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of the plates F, supports G, provided with openings G, the body A, provided with nut N, arms II and .I, and the bolt K, provided with thumb-piece M and collars O, journaled bet-ween said collars in or on plate F, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS A. GALT. lVitnesses:

JOHN G. MANAHAN, ADDA E. WARD. 

